how to pass ati critical thinking test

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ATI Critical Thinking Exit Exam Test Bank

ATI critical thinking exit exam test bank are questions that trigger thoughtful analysis. You should assess information and propositions by applying various cognitive abilities to arrive at well-founded, rational, and consistent conclusions within a specific context.

Rather than passively accepting assertions and final thoughts, you must have robust critical thinking skills to engage in questioning and examining the provided evidence. To pass this exam, you must seek logical associations among concepts, explore alternative explanations, and gauge the persuasiveness of presented arguments. Try Naxlex Nursing!

Unlock your Critical Thinking Potential

Elevate your critical thinking skills for the ATI exit exam with Naxlex Nursing's unparalleled test bank! We offer over 900,000 critical thinking practice questions, ensuring you're well-prepared. Our expert tutors regularly refresh the test bank, providing a fresh learning experience. Naxlex offers you practice tests, study guides and flashcards to prepare for your ATI Exit Exam. Don't wait until the last minute. Prepare for your ATI exit early and avoid the last-hour rush.

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Comprehensive predictor exams, what's in the ati critical thinking exit exam.

A critical thinking exam presents a paragraph of information setting a scenario in the medical field. You're supposed to determine if the information is truthful from the statement. There are four ways the examiner tests your critical thinking;

Assumption:

In this scenario, the examiner wants you to evaluate the statement and conclude if the assumption is present . It's up to you to determine if the information provided has an assumption.

Example question : When administering medications, which statement is true regarding the "Five Rights" of medication administration?

a) Right patient means any patient who requests medication.

b) The right route ensures that the medication is administered as quickly as possible.

c) The right dose requires giving the highest possible dose to ensure effectiveness.

d) None of the options are correct.

Answer: (d) None of the options are correct.

Inference :

In the inference question, the examiner will present various inferences , and you will be asked to mention if the inferences are possibly true, absolutely true, possibly false, or absolutely false.

Question Example: When providing care to a patient, which statement regarding hand hygiene is true?

a) Hand hygiene is necessary only after direct contact with body fluids.

b) Hand hygiene should be performed before and after every patient interaction.

c) Hand hygiene can be skipped if gloves are worn.

d) Hand hygiene is primarily the responsibility of the nursing assistants.

Answer: b) Hand hygiene should be performed before and after every patient interaction.

Interpretation:

In this question type, the examiner asks you to interpret the passage in your own words and come up with a possible conclusion. You need to understand the information and create a conclusion based on the interpretation question.

Example Question : You are assessing a patient with a strict fluid restriction due to a medical condition. Upon reviewing the patient's intake and output records, you notice that the recorded fluid intake exceeds the prescribed limit consistently. What could be the possible reasons for this situation, and how should a nurse interpret and address it?

a) The patient is not adhering to the fluid restriction and is consuming liquids covertly.

b) Errors in recording or miscalculations in measuring the patient's fluid intake.

c) The healthcare provider has changed the patient's fluid restriction, but the records were not updated.

d) The patient's condition has worsened, requiring a relaxation of the fluid restriction.

e) The nursing staff intentionally provides additional fluids to improve patient comfort.

Correct Answer: The correct answer may vary based on the specific scenario and information available. However, a) The patient is not adhering to the fluid restriction and consuming liquids covertly, and b) Errors in recording or miscalculations in measuring the patient's fluid intake.

Analysis argument:

In such questions, you're presented with an argument, and you will determine if it's weak or strong. The argument that relates to a certain scenario is strong but weak if not directed.

Example Question:

In modern healthcare, the nurse's role has evolved significantly, with an increasing emphasis on technology and complex medical interventions. Analyze the following statement: "While technological advancements have undoubtedly improved patient care, they have also raised ethical concerns and potentially reduced the focus on holistic patient-centered care in nursing practice." Provide a well-structured argument supporting or refuting this statement, considering the ethical implications and the balance between technology and human touch in nursing.

Supercharge your critical thinking ATI exit exam preparation with Naxlex Nursing's extensive critical thinking test bank. Boasting a whopping 8,000+ questions, you'll never run out of practice. Our dedicated tutors constantly update the bank, guaranteeing a dynamic learning journey.

Explore our comprehensive offerings, including flashcards and study guides, at a reasonable price. Take charge of your success using Naxlex nursing study materials today and pass the ATI critical thinking exit exam. Contact Naxlex Nursing now.

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ATI Critical Thinking Exam

Best way to prepare for the ATI Critical Thinking Exam Nursing Students General Students

• Critical Thinking

Updated: Feb 27, 2020   Published Apr 27, 2019

Hello everyone. I'm new to the site. Does anyone have any tips on how to prepare for the ATI Critical Thinking Exam? I'm re-entering a different nursing school & I have Fundamentals & Med Surg under my belt. I'm thinking it may be "think like a nurse questions, while that answer is correct it is not the most correct" type questions but I don't want to assume. Any advice?? Thanks in advance!!

More Like This

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morbidlycurious

Pretty much.

My test only had two hospital related questions - something like "an older gentleman repeated reports having severe pain." Do you :

A. Assume he is just complaining. B. Ignore him and move on. C. Listen to his concerns. D. Restock supplies.

You can search online for "critical thinking tests" and find some with questions like "if all cats are wolves, and some wolves are aardvarks, then all aardvarks must be cats." I had a TON of those on mine.

There was a bunch of questions about evaluating made up newspaper articles too. Where the available answers are "this statement must be true." "This statement must not be true." "This statement may be true." or "This statement may be false."

Just use your time wisely and do your best. I was given 20 minutes to take mine, but I was worried that I would run out of time without answering all of the questions. Some questions will take longer than others.

Some schools allow you to retake it too after a certain amount of time has elapsed. I'd think that with you already having completed some nursing courses, you should be fine.

@morbidlycurious ? ? ? Thanks!!!! I was skeptical of what was going to be tested but your experience with it has reassured me. Thanks a ton!!!! ?

@morbidlycurious

: you were soooooo right!!! The questions were outlandish!! But I took your advice and scored higher than what the school is requiring. Thanks again!!!

You were soooooo right!!!! The questions were outlandish!! But I took your advice and scored higher than what the school is requiring. Thanks again!!!

That's great! I don't see too much information about the ATI critical thinking test online - glad that I could help ?

@morbidlycurious I didn't see much information either, if any! But your comment of "if all cats are wolves, and some wolves are aardvarks, then all aardvarks must be cats" hit the nail on the head!!! ? ? Some of those questions had me thinking to myself, they can't be serious! ?

FlyMurse, BSN, RN

I was told I'm going to have this test as part of a CRNA school interview. Does anyone know about this at the post-grad level?? I am now freaking out haha.

Pretty sure ATI only does one Critical Thinking Test, so i'm sure that you'd be looking at the same test that we did.

On 6/14/2019 at 6:49 PM, RN2020scm said: @morbidlycurious I didn't see much information either, if any! But your comment of "if all cats are wolves, and some wolves are aardvarks, then all aardvarks must be cats" hit the nail on the head!!! ? ? Some of those questions had me thinking to myself, they can't be serious! ?

On 6/13/2019 at 8:44 PM, RN2020scm said: @morbidlycurious You were soooooo right!!!! The questions were outlandish!! But I took your advice and scored higher than what the school is requiring. Thanks again!!!

did you get any question related with math problems ,or clinical scenarios?

Can you all tell me what you used to study for the Critical Thinking Exam?

8 minutes ago, Kuvesh86 said: Hi Nurses Can you all tell me what you used to study for the Critical Thinking Exam?

Hey! It's something you can't study for. The questions are literally off the wall. For example: If cup A holds twice as much as cup C but cup B is less than E and F combined, which cup holds the most. Stuff like that.

How to Answer Nursing School Exam Questions (TOP HACKS!)

Test Taking Tips

Nursing exams are totally different than anything you’ve ever taken before. They are worded completely differently, and they really test your critical thinking skills to the max.

But most nursing students I talk with don’t know that there are some super cool test taking tips and strategies that you can use to pick the correct answer, even if you’re not totally sure what the correct answer is.

In this video, we’re diving into some AWESOME nursing school exam hacks that you can use to choose the right answer, even if you’re not totally sure what the correct answer is.

So if you’re struggling with taking your nursing school exams and aren’t doing as well as you want, then this video is for you!

HERE’S A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT WE’LL TALK ABOUT:

• Test Taking Strategy #1: How to answer “Select all that apply” questions (1:34)
• Test Taking Strategy #2: How to answer questions with 2 conflicting or opposite answers (3:33)
• Test Taking Strategy #3: Patient safety is ALWAYS your number one priority (5:33)

RELATED VIDEOS

ABC Nursing (Airway Breathing Circulation)

How to CRITICALLY THINK in Nursing School (Your COMPLETE Step-By-Step Guide)

How to Study with CASE STUDIES in Nursing School

Nursing School EXAM HACKS to Help You PASS

How to PASS Your ATI Exams in Nursing School

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Hey there, friend! In this video, we’re diving into some AWESOME nursing school exam hacks that you can use to choose the right answer, even if you’re not totally sure what the correct answer is. So if you’re struggling with taking your nursing school exams and aren’t doing as well as you want, then this video is for you! So hit that subscribe button and click the notification bell and let’s dive in.

So you already know that nursing exams are totally different than anything you’ve ever taken before. They are worded completely differently, and they really test your critical thinking skills to the max.

That’s why I highly recommend watching THIS video to help you deepen your critical thinking skills and develop them faster, because you’ll do better on your exams and at clinical that way.

So let’s walk through some of them here.

Now if you’re a NursingSOS Member , be sure to check out the bonus video we have for you on how to answer nursing exam questions. You’ll find it inside the bonus section of your dashboard, and I got through a lot more test taking hacks than I have time to cover here today. So definitely check that out after you watch this video.

The first nursing school test taking strategy is the one on everyone’s mind: how to answer those dreaded “Select All That Apply” questions.

Students message me about these all the time because they are some of the hardest questions you’ll see on your nursing school exams.

With these questions, you’ll see a check-box next to each answer, instead of a circle, and it will allow you to choose multiple answers.

And in order to get the question correct, you need to select all of the correct answers. There is no partial credit given if you only select a few correct one’s. You need to choose ALL of the correct answers.

So here’s the best strategy I’ve found to help with this: Look at every individual answer and treat it as a true or false question in and of itself.

So here’s what you’ll do: read the question, and then look at the first answer and ask yourself, “is it true or false” (as it relates to the question being asked). And then decide if it’s correct or not. And then repeat this process for each answer: re-read the question, and look at the second answer, and so on.

And you MUST treat each answer individually. Some answers may be VERY similar, and that’s okay. You can select both of them if you think they are both correct (even though they are very similar to each other). With SATA or “select all that apply” questions, all answers should be treated individually, and you shouldn’t compare them with any of the other answers.

So that’s why we take it one answer at a time. Read the question, and read the first answer, and decide if it’s true or false. So you need to treat all answers like true or false questions, and take each one individually. Don’t compare answers to each other.

The second nursing school exam hack is that when you see 2 conflicting or opposite answers, one of them is most likely to correct one.

So for example, if you get a question that asks about the side effects of a particular medication, and they give you 4 answers:

• Decreased heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Tachycardia

2 of those answers are opposite of each other: decrease heart rate and tachycardia (which means a high heart rate). So more than likely, one of those 2 answers would be the correct one.

They’re trying to see if you know the difference between those 2 terms, along with critically thinking about what the side effects of that medication would be.

So if you see 2 answers that are opposite or conflicting, one of them is most likely the correct one.

Now the third nursing school test taking strategy is SUPER important for you to know. But before we dive into it, I want to give a shout out to Maha for our YouTube comment of the week, which says,

“OMG I love her! I spend close to 2 hours trying to understand the relationship between potassium, glucose and insulin. I finally understand now. Thank you.”

That is so sweet, Maha. I’m so glad our videos have helped you out. I really don’t want it to take you 2 hours to learn anything, that’s just crazy land. So I’m glad I can break things down simple and easy for you and help you learn it faster. I’m super happy it helped you out!

I just love reading your comments every week. We are blessed to have the most supportive nursing students here. You are the BEST , my friend. Thank you for your support, and keep your comments coming. I really enjoy reading them and getting to know you.

Now let’s get back to those test taking tips.

The third nursing school exam hack you need to know about is that patient safety is ALWAYS your number one priority.

The best thing to keep in mind during your exam is the ABCs, which stands for airway, breathing and circulation. Make sure your patient’s airway is open, they are breathing, their blood is circulating. If one of those things isn’t happening in the exam question they give you, that is what you need to fix.

We have a whole video on the ABCs and what they mean HERE for you to check out.

Often times, nursing school exams will present you with a case scenario question and have you decide what you would do FIRST to help that patient. So they may ask you what your “priority” nursing action would be, or what your “initial” action would be.

So when you get one of these questions where you’re asked to prioritize, your first thought should be the ABCs:

• Circulation

In a few weeks, I’m going to do a video on how I was able to take an entire day off from studying every single week during nursing school. So if you feel like you’re drowning in nursing school right now and just can’t catch a break, make sure you’ve clicked on the notification bell so you get notified when that video goes up. Seriously, you don’t want to miss it.

Now make sure to like, comment, subscribe and share this video with a friend.

And click on one of these videos here so you can keep rocking nursing school, and go become the nurse that God created only YOU to be. And I’ll catch you in the next video.

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Critical Thinking Tests

• 228 questions

Critical thinking tests, sometimes known as critical reasoning tests, are often used by employers. They evaluate how a candidate makes logical deductions after scrutinising the evidence provided, while avoiding fallacies or non-factual opinions. Critical thinking tests can form part of an assessment day, or be used as a screening test before an interview.

What is a critical thinking test?

A critical thinking test assesses your ability to use a range of logical skills to evaluate given information and make a judgement. The test is presented in such a way that candidates are expected to quickly scrutinise the evidence presented and decide on the strength of the arguments.

Critical thinking tests show potential employers that you do not just accept data and can avoid subconscious bias and opinions – instead, you can find logical connections between ideas and find alternative interpretations.

This test is usually timed, so quick, clear, logical thinking will help candidates get the best marks. Critical thinking tests are designed to be challenging, and often used as part of the application process for upper-management-level roles.

What does critical thinking mean?

Critical thinking is the intellectual skill set that ensures you can process and consider information, challenge and analyse data, and then reach a conclusion that can be defended and justified.

In the most simple terms, critical reasoning skills will make sure that you are not simply accepting information at face value with little or no supporting evidence.

It also means that you are less likely to be swayed by ‘false news’ or opinions that cannot be backed with facts – which is important in high-level jobs that require logical thinking.

For more information about logical thinking, please see our article all about logical reasoning .

Which professions use critical thinking tests, and why?

Typically, critical thinking tests are taken as part of the application process for jobs that require advanced skills in judgement, analysis and decision making. The higher the position, the more likely that you will need to demonstrate reliable critical reasoning and good logic.

The legal sector is the main industry that uses critical thinking assessments – making decisions based on facts, without opinion and intuition, is vital in legal matters.

A candidate for a legal role needs to demonstrate their intellectual skills in problem-solving without pre-existing knowledge or subconscious bias – and the critical thinking test is a simple and effective way to screen candidates.

Another industry that uses critical thinking tests as part of the recruitment process is banking. In a similar way to the legal sector, those that work in banking are required to make decisions without allowing emotion, intuition or opinion to cloud coherent analysis and conclusions.

Critical thinking tests also sometimes comprise part of the recruitment assessment for graduate and management positions across numerous industries.

The format of the test: which skills are tested?

The test itself, no matter the publisher, is multiple choice.

As a rule, the questions present a paragraph of information for a scenario that may include numerical data. There will then be a statement and a number of possible answers.

The critical thinking test is timed, so decisions need to be made quickly and accurately; in most tests there is a little less than a minute for each question. Having experience of the test structure and what each question is looking for will make the experience smoother for you.

There are typically five separate sections in a critical thinking test, and each section may have multiple questions.

Inference questions assess your ability to judge whether a statement is true, false, or impossible to determine based on the given data and scenario. You usually have five possible answers: absolutely true, absolutely false, possibly true, possibly false, or not possible to determine.

Assumptions

In this section, you are being assessed on your ability to avoid taking things for granted. Each question gives a scenario including data, and you need to evaluate whether there are any assumptions present.

Here you are given a scenario and a number of deductions that may be applicable. You need to assess the given deductions to see which is the logical conclusion – does it follow?

Interpretation

In the interpretation stage, you need to read and analyse a paragraph of information, then interpret a set of possible conclusions, to see which one is correct. You are looking for the conclusion that follows beyond reasonable doubt.

Evaluation of Arguments

In this section, you are given a scenario and a set of arguments that can be for or against. You need to determine which are strong arguments and which are weak, in terms of the information that you have. This decision is made based on the way they address the scenario and how relevant they are to the content.

How best to prepare for a critical thinking test

The best way to prepare for any type of aptitude test is to practice, and critical thinking tests are no different.

Taking practice tests, as mentioned above, will give you confidence as it makes you better understand the structure, layout and timing of the real tests, so you can concentrate on the actual scenarios and questions.

Practice tests should be timed. This will help you get used to working through the scenarios and assessing the conclusions under time constraints – which is a good way to make sure that you perform quickly as well as accurately.

In some thinking skills assessments , a timer will be built in, but you might need to time yourself.

Consistent practice will also enable you to pinpoint any areas of the critical thinking test that require improvement. Our tests offer explanations for each answer, similar to the examples provided above.

Publishers of critical thinking tests

The watson glaser critical thinking test.

The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (W-GCTA) is the most popular and widely used critical thinking test. This test has been in development for 85 years and is published by TalentLens .

The W-GCTA is seen as a successful tool for assessing cognitive abilities, allowing recruiting managers to predict job success, find good managers and identify future leaders. It is available in multiple languages including English, French and Spanish.

The test itself can be used as part of an assessment day or as a screening assessment before an interview. It consists of 40 questions on the 5 sections mentioned above, and is timed at 30 minutes. Click here for more information on Watson Glaser tests .

SHL critical reasoning test

SHL is a major aptitude test publisher, which offers critical thinking as part of its testing battery for pre-employment checks.

SHL tests cover all kinds of behavioural and aptitude tests, from logic to inference, verbal to numerical – and with a number of test batteries available online, they are one of the most popular choices for recruiters.

Cornell critical thinking test

The Cornell critical thinking test was made to test students and first developed in 1985. It is an American system that helps teachers, parents and administrators to confidently predict future performance for college admission, gifted and advanced placement programs, and even career success.

Prepare yourself for leading employers

5 Example critical thinking practice questions with answers

In this section, you need to deduce whether the inferred statement is true, false or impossible to deduce.

The UK Government has published data that shows 82% of people under the age of 30 are not homeowners. A charity that helps homeless people has published data that shows 48% of people that are considered homeless are under 30.

The lack of affordable housing on the sales market is the reason so many under-30s are homeless.

• Definitely True
• Probably True
• Impossible to Deduce
• Probably False
• Definitely False

The information given does not infer the conclusion given, so it is impossible to deduce if the inference is correct – there is just not enough information to judge the inference as correct.

The removal of the five-substitution rule in British football will benefit clubs with a smaller roster.

Clubs with more money would prefer the five-substitute rule to continue.

• Assumption Made

Assumption Not Made

This is an example of a fallacy that could cause confusion for a candidate – it encourages you to bring in any pre-existing knowledge of football clubs.

It would be easy to assume the assumption has been made when you consider that the more money a club has, the more players they should have on the roster. However, the statement does not make the assumption that the clubs with more money would prefer to continue with the five-substitute rule.

All boys love football. Football is a sport, therefore:

• All boys love all sports
• Girls do not love football
• Boys are more likely to choose to play football than any other sport

In this section we are looking for the conclusion that follows the logic of the statement. In this example, we cannot deduce that girls do not love football, because there is not enough information to support that.

In the same way the conclusion that all boys love all sports does not follow – we are not given enough information to make that assumption. So, the conclusion that follows is 3: boys are more likely to choose football than any other sport because all boys like football.

The British Museum has a range of artefacts on display, including the largest privately owned collection of WWII weaponry.

There is a larger privately owned collection of WWII weaponry in the USA.

• Conclusion Follows

Conclusion Does Not Follow

The fact that the collection is in the British Museum does not make a difference to the fact it is the largest private collection – so there cannot be a larger collection elsewhere.

The Department for Education should lower standards in examinations to make it fairer for less able students.

• Yes – top grades are too hard for lower-income students
• No – less fortunate students are not capable of higher standards
• Yes – making the standards lower will benefit all students
• No – private school students will suffer if grade standards are lower
• The strongest argument is the right answer, not the one that you might personally believe.

In this case, we need to assess which argument is most relevant to the statement. Both 1 and 4 refer to students in particular situations, which isn’t relevant to the statement. The same can be said about 2, so the strongest argument is 3, since it is relevant and addresses the statement given.

Sample Critical Thinking Tests question Test your knowledge!

What implication can be drawn from the information in the passage?

A company’s internal audit revealed that departments with access to advanced analytics tools reported higher levels of strategic decision-making. These departments also showed a higher rate of reaching their quarterly objectives.

• Strategic decision-making has no link to the achievement of quarterly objectives.
• Access to advanced analytics does not influence a department's ability to make strategic decisions.
• Advanced analytics tools are the sole reason for departments reaching their quarterly objectives.
• Departments without access to advanced analytics tools are unable to make strategic decisions.
• Advanced analytics tools may facilitate better strategic decision-making, which can lead to the achievement of objectives.

After reading the passage below, what conclusion is best supported by the information provided?

• Job satisfaction increases when employees start their day earlier.
• Starting early may lead to more efficient task completion and less job-related stress.
• Workers who start their day later are more efficient at completing tasks.
• There is a direct correlation between job satisfaction and starting work early.
• The study concludes that job-related stress is unaffected by the start time of the workday.

Based on the passage below, which of the following assumptions is implicit?

• Inter-departmental cooperation is the sole factor influencing project completion rates.
• The increase in project completion rates is due entirely to the specialized team-building module.
• Team-building exercises have no effect on inter-departmental cooperation.
• The specialized team-building module may contribute to improvements in inter-departmental cooperation.
• Departments that have not undergone the training will experience a decrease in project completion rates.

What is the flaw in the argument presented in the passage below?

• The assumption that a casual dress code is suitable for all company types.
• High-tech companies have a casual dress code to increase employee productivity specifically.
• The argument correctly suggests that a casual dress code will increase employee morale in every company.
• Morale and productivity cannot be affected by a company's dress code.
• A casual dress code is more important than other factors in determining a company's success.

Which statement is an inference that can be drawn from the passage below?

• Telecommuting employees are less productive than on-site workers.
• The reduction in operational costs is directly caused by the increase in telecommuting employees.
• Telecommuting may have contributed to the decrease in operational costs.
• Operational costs are unaffected by employee work locations.
• The number of telecommuting employees has no impact on operational costs.

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Critical Thinking Tests Tips

The most important factor in your success will be practice. If you have taken some practice tests, not only will you start to recognise the way questions are worded and become familiar with what each question is looking for, you will also be able to find out whether there are any parts that you need extra practice with.

It is important to find out which test you will be taking, as some generic critical thinking practice tests might not help if you are taking specific publisher tests (see the section below).

2 Fact vs fallacy

Practice questions can also help you recognise the difference between fact and fallacy in the test. A fallacy is simply an error or something misleading in the scenario paragraph that encourages you to choose an invalid argument. This might be a presumption or a misconception, but if it isn’t spotted it can make finding the right answer impossible.

3 Ignore what you already know

There is no need for pre-existing knowledge to be brought into the test, so no research is needed. In fact, it is important that you ignore any subconscious bias when you are considering the questions – you need logic and facts to get the correct answer, not intuition or instinct.

4 Read everything carefully

Read all the given information thoroughly. This might sound straightforward, but knowing that the test is timed can encourage candidates to skip content and risk misunderstanding the content or miss crucial details.

During the test itself, you will receive instructions that will help you to understand what is being asked of you on each section. There is likely to be an example question and answer, so ensure you take the time to read them fully.

5 Stay aware of the time you've taken

This test is usually timed, so don’t spend too long on a question. If you feel it is going to take too much time, leave it and come back to it at the end (if you have time). Critical thinking tests are complex by design, so they do have quite generous time limits.

For further advice, check out our full set of tips for critical thinking tests .

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Critical Thinking Tests FAQs

What are the basics of critical thinking.

In essence, critical thinking is the intellectual process of considering information on its merits, and reaching an analysis or conclusion from that information that can be defended and rationalised with evidence.

How do you know if you have good critical thinking skills?

You are likely to be someone with good critical thinking skills if you can build winning arguments; pick holes in someone’s theory if it’s inconsistent with known facts; reflect on the biases inherent in your own experiences and assumptions; and look at problems using a systematic methodology.

Reviews of our Watson Glaser tests

What our customers say about our Watson Glaser tests

Jozef Bailey

United Kingdom

April 05, 2022

Doesn't cover all aspects of Watson-Glaser tests but useful

The WGCTA uses more categories to assess critical thinking, but this was useful for the inference section.

April 01, 2022

Just practicing for an interview

Good information and liked that it had a countdown clock, to give you that real feel in the test situation.

Jerico Kadhir

March 31, 2022

Aptitude test

It was OK, I didn't understand personally whether or not the "cannot say" option was acceptable or not in a lot of the questions, as it may have been a trick option.

Salvarina Viknesuari

March 15, 2022

I like the test because the platform is simple and engaging while the test itself is different than most of the Watson Glaser tests I've taken.

Alexis Sheridan

March 02, 2022

Some of the ratios were harder than I thought!

I like how clear the design and layout is - makes things very easy (even if the content itself is not!)

Cyril Lekgetho

February 17, 2022

Mental arithmetic

I enjoyed the fact that there were multiple questions pertaining to one passage of information, rather than multiple passages. However I would've appreciated a more varied question type.

Madupoju Manish

February 16, 2022

Analytics are the best questions

I like the test because of its time schedule. The way the questions are prepared makes it easy to crack the original test.

Chelsea Franklin

February 02, 2022

Interesting

I haven't done something like this for ages. Very good for the brain - although I certainly experienced some fog whilst doing it.

[email protected]

January 04, 2022

Population/exchange rates were the hardest

Great test as it felt a bit time pressured. Very different types of questions in terms of difficulty.

faezeh tavakoli

January 02, 2022

More attention to detail + be more time conscious

It was asking about daily stuff we all deal with, but as an assessment it's scrutinising how we approach these problems.

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What Is Critical Thinking?

Who uses critical thinking tests and why, how to prepare for a critical thinking test in 2024, final thoughts, critical thinking tests (2024 guide).

Updated November 18, 2023

Critical thinking is the ability to scrutinize evidence using intellectual skills. Reflective skills are employed to reach clear, coherent and logical conclusions – rather than just accepting information as it is provided.

Critical thinking tests measure the candidate’s understanding of logical connections between ideas, the strength of an argument, alternate interpretations and the significance of a particular claim.

A major facet of critical thinking is the ability to separate facts from opinions and work against any subconscious bias.

In critical thinking tests, employers are looking for people who can think critically about information, showing they are open-minded, good problem-solvers and excellent decision-makers.

Critical thinking tests assess how well a candidate can analyze and reason when presented with specific information.

They are used as part of the application process in several industries, most commonly for professions where employees would need to use advanced judgment and analysis skills in decision-making.

For example:

Academic applications – In some instances, critical thinking tests are used to assess whether prospective students have the skills required to be successful in higher education.

Law – Critical thinking assessments are often used in the legal sector as part of the application process. In many law positions, facts are more important than opinion, subconscious bias or pre-existing ideas so an applicant needs to be skilled in critical thinking.

Finance – In financial institutions, decisions often need to be made based on facts rather than emotion or opinion. Judgments made in banking need to be skilled decisions based on logic and the strength of data and information – so to be successful, candidates need to demonstrate that they will not accept arguments and conclusions at face value.

Graduate roles – In some sectors, critical thinking tests are used in graduate recruitment because they are considered to be predictors of ability.

With several different tests available, suited to different industries, many top-level jobs are likely to include critical thinking assessments as part of the application process.

Critical Thinking Tests Explained

Critical thinking tests are usually presented in a similar format no matter who the publisher is. A paragraph of information and data is given, with a statement that is under scrutiny.

Multiple-choice answers are presented for each statement, and there may be more than one question about the same paragraph.

While each question is presented in the same way, different aspects of critical thinking are assessed throughout the test.

Assessing Assumptions

For this type of question, there may be something ‘taken for granted’ in the information provided – and it might not be explicitly stated.

The candidate needs to evaluate the scenario and conclude whether any assumptions are present. The statement below the scenario may or may not support the statement and the answer selection will be about whether the stated assumption is made or not made in the scenario.

Example Question for Assessing Assumptions

Practice Critical Thinking Test with JobTestPrep

The mainstream media presents information that is supported by the political party in power.

Assumption: The information that the mainstream media presents is always correct.

a) Assumption made b) Assumption not made

Determining Inferences

Following a paragraph of information containing evidence, you will be presented with an inference and need to assess whether the inference is absolutely true, possibly true, possibly false, absolutely false, or it is not possible to reach a decision.

An inference is a conclusion that can be reached based on logical reasoning from the information. Although all the evidence to support (or not support) the inference is included in the passage, it will not be obvious or explicitly stated, which makes the inference harder to conclude.

Example Question for Determining Inferences

It has been snowing all night and there is thick snow on the ground. Today’s weather is sunny and bright.

Inference: The snow will melt today.

a) Possibly true b) Absolutely true c) Possibly false d) Absolutely false e) Not possible to reach a decision

Making Deductions

For this type of question, the information presented will be a set of factual statements and the candidate will need to decide if the deduction applies or does not apply.

This logical thinking is a top-down exercise where all the information is provided and needs to be read in the order it is presented.

If statement A = B, does B = C? There should be no grey areas – it either does or does not follow.

Example Question for Making Deductions

All plants have leaves. All leaves are green.

Proposed deduction: All plants are green.

a) Deduction follows b) Deduction does not follow

If you need to prepare for a number of different employment tests and want to outsmart the competition, choose a Premium Membership from JobTestPrep . You will get access to three PrepPacks of your choice, from a database that covers all the major test providers and employers and tailored profession packs.

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Interpretation of Conclusions

Presented with information, the candidate needs to assess whether a given conclusion is correct based on the evidence provided.

For the purposes of the test, we need to believe that all the information provided in the paragraph is true, even if we have opinions about the correctness of the statement.

Example Question for Interpretation of Conclusions

When cooking a meal, one of the most important things to get right is the balance between major food groups. Satisfaction from a good meal comes from getting the most nutrition and can therefore be attributed to a wide variety of flavors, including vegetables, a good source of protein and carbohydrates. A balanced diet is about more than just everything in moderation and should be considered a scientific process with measuring of ingredients and efficient cooking methods.

Proposed conclusion: The best meals are those that are scientifically prepared.

a) Conclusion follows b) Conclusion does not follow

Evaluation of Arguments (Analysis of Arguments)

In this analysis section, the candidate is presented with a scenario and an argument that might be in favor of the scenario or against it.

The candidate needs to evaluate whether the argument itself is weak or strong. This needs to be based on the relevance to the scenario and whether it accurately addresses the question.

Example Question for Evaluation of Arguments

Should all drugs be made legal?

Proposed argument: No, all drugs are dangerous to everyone.

a) Argument is strong b) Argument is weak

Most Common Critical Thinking Tests in 2024

Watson glaser test.

Watson Glaser is the most commonly used test publisher for critical thinking assessments and is used by many industries.

When sitting a Watson Glaser test, your results will be compared against a sample group of over 1,500 test-takers who are considered representative of graduate-level candidates.

The test is usually 40 questions long, with 30 minutes to answer, but there is a longer version that asks 80 questions with a time limit of an hour.

Who Uses This Test?

The Watson Glaser Test is used in a wide variety of industries for different roles, especially in the legal and banking sectors. Some employers that use the Watson Glaser Test are:

• Bank of England
• Irwin Mitchell
• Simmons & Simmons

What Is the RED model?

The Watson Glaser Test is based on something called the ‘RED model’. The questions in the test are based on:

• Recognizing assumptions
• Evaluating arguments
• Drawing conclusions

The science behind the Watson Glaser Test shows that candidates who show strong critical thinking skills in these areas are more likely to perform well in roles where logical decisions and judgments have to be made.

Where to Take a Free Practice Test

Watson Glaser Tests have a specific layout and format. If you are going to be completing one of the assessments as part of your application, it’s best to practice questions that match the test format.

You can find Watson Glaser practice tests at JobTestPrep as well as a prep pack to give you all the tips, tricks and information you need to make the most of your practice time.

Take a Practice Watson Glaser Test

SHL Critical Reasoning Battery Test

The SHL Critical Reasoning Battery Test includes questions based on numerical, verbal and inductive reasoning. This test is usually used for managerial and supervisory roles, and can include mechanical comprehension if needed for the job role (usually in engineering or mechanical roles).

You can find out more on JobTestPrep’s SHL Critical Reasoning Battery pages .

Take a Practice SHL Test

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is an online adaptive test – using sophisticated algorithms to adjust the difficulty of the questions according to the answers already provided.

Questions include integrated, quantitative and verbal reasoning as well as an analytical writing assessment. The GMAT is widely used to predict performance in business or management programs in more than 1,700 universities and organizations.

Take a Practice GMAT

Preparation is key to success in any pre-employment assessment. While some people think critical reasoning is not a skill you can practice, there are some steps you can take to perform at your best.

Critical thinking tests are straightforward but not necessarily easy.

Step 1 . Consider Buying a Preparation Pack

If you can determine who the publisher is for the test you will take, it may be worthwhile investing in a prep pack from that particular publisher.

JobTestPrep offers prep packs for many major test publishers. These packs include realistic practice tests as well as study guides, tips and tricks to help you build your own question-solving strategies.

Step 2 . Use Practice Tests

Even if you decide not to purchase a prep pack, taking practice tests will help you focus on the areas where you need to improve to be successful.

It is important to find out the publisher of the test you will take because not all critical thinking tests are at the same level and they may not follow the same structure. Timings, answering methodologies and the number of questions will vary between publishers.

You can usually find out the test publisher before you take the assessment by asking the recruiter or searching online.

Step 3 . Practice Under Test Conditions

Critical thinking tests are timed. To give yourself the best chance of achieving a high score, you need to answer the questions quickly and efficiently.

Practicing under test conditions – including the time limit – will help you to understand how much time you need to spend on each question and will help you to develop efficient time management skills for the assessment.

Practicing under test conditions will also help you focus so you can make the most of the session.

Step 4 . Practice Abstract Reasoning

Abstract reasoning is a form of critical thinking that uses logic to form a conclusion. Some abstract reasoning tests are presented as word problems.

Practicing these is a good way to flex critical thinking muscles. You can find practice questions on the Psychometric Success website .

Step 5 . Practice Critical Thinking in Everyday Life

Reading widely, especially non-fiction, is a good way to practice your critical thinking skills in everyday life.

Newspaper articles, scientific or technical journals, and other sources of information present an opportunity to think about:

• The strength of arguments
• The perspective of the author
• Whether there are enough facts presented to draw the conclusion given
• Whether other conclusions could be drawn from the same information

Step 6 . Revise Logical Fallacies

Knowledge of logical fallacies will help you to judge the effectiveness of an argument. Fallacy describes ‘faulty reasoning’ in an argument and is often seen in hyperbole or opinion pieces in newspapers and magazines.

There are many types of fallacy that you might come across, such as:

• Strawman – An argument that doesn’t address the statement.
• False cause – An argument based on a connection that doesn’t exist.
• Ambiguity – An argument using a phrase that is unclear or that may have different meanings.
• Appeal to popularity – An argument that states it must be true because many people believe it.

There are many others, including red herrings, appeal to authority and false dichotomy. Learning these will help you to identify a weak argument.

Step 7 . Focus on Long-Term Practice

Cramming and panicking about a critical thinking assessment is rarely conducive to great performance.

If you are looking for a career in a sector where critical thinking skills are necessary, then long-term practice will have better results when you come to be assessed. Make critical thinking a part of life – so that every day can be a chance to practice recognizing assumptions.

Key Tips for Critical Thinking Test Success

Understand the format of the test and each question type.

Familiarity is important for any assessment, and in critical thinking tests, it is essential that you can recognize what the question is looking for. As mentioned above, this is usually one of the following:

• Assessing assumptions
• Determining inferences
• Making deductions
• Interpreting conclusions

Practice tests will help you become comfortable with the structure and format of the test, including ways to answer, and will also demonstrate what the question types look like.

Read Test Content Carefully

Taking time to read and understand the content provided in the question is important to ensure that you can answer correctly.

The information you need to determine the correct answer will be provided although it might not be explicitly stated. Careful reading is an important part of critical thinking.

Only Use the Information Provided

While some of the information provided in the critical thinking test might be related to the role you are applying for, or about something that you have existing knowledge of, you mustn't use this knowledge during the test.

A facet of critical thinking is avoiding subconscious bias and opinion, so only use the information that is provided to answer the question.

Look Out for Facts and Fallacies

Throughout the critical thinking test, look out for facts and fallacies in the information and arguments provided.

Identifying fallacies will help you decide if an argument is strong and will help you answer questions correctly.

Critical thinking tests are used as pre-employment assessments for jobs that require effective communication, good problem-solving and great decision-making, such as those in the legal sector and banking.

These tests assess the ability of candidates to question and scrutinize evidence, make logical connections between ideas, find alternative interpretations and decide on the strength of an argument.

All critical thinking tests are not the same, but they do have similar question types. Learning what these are and how to answer them will help you perform better. Practicing tests based on the specific publisher of your test will give you the best results.

You might also be interested in these other Psychometric Success articles:

Or explore the Aptitude Tests / Test Types sections.

What is the Critical Thinking Test?

Critical thinking practice test, take a free practice critical thinking test, practice critical thinking test.

Updated November 16, 2023

The Critical Thinking Test is a comprehensive evaluation designed to assess individuals' cognitive capacities and analytical prowess.

This formal examination, often referred to as the critical thinking assessment, is a benchmark for those aiming to demonstrate their proficiency in discernment and problem-solving.

In addition, this evaluative tool meticulously gauges a range of skills, including logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and the ability to evaluate and synthesize information.

This article will embark on an exploration of the Critical Thinking Test, elucidating its intricacies and elucidating its paramount importance. We will dissect the essential skills it measures and clarify its significance in gauging one's intellectual aptitude.

We will examine examples of critical thinking questions, illuminating the challenging scenarios that candidates encounter prompting them to navigate the complexities of thought with finesse.

Before going ahead to take the critical thinking test, let's delve into the realm of preparation. This segment serves as a crucible for honing the skills assessed in the actual examination, offering candidates a chance to refine their analytical blades before facing the real challenge. Here are some skills that will help you with the critical thinking assessment: Logical Reasoning: The practice test meticulously evaluates your ability to deduce conclusions from given information, assess the validity of arguments, and recognize patterns in logic. Analytical Thinking: Prepare to dissect complex scenarios, identify key components, and synthesize information to draw insightful conclusions—a fundamental aspect of the critical thinking assessment. Problem-Solving Proficiency: Navigate through intricate problems that mirror real-world challenges, honing your capacity to approach issues systematically and derive effective solutions. What to Expect: The Critical Thinking Practice Test is crafted to mirror the format and complexity of the actual examination. Expect a series of scenarios, each accompanied by a set of questions that demand thoughtful analysis and logical deduction. These scenarios span diverse fields, from business and science to everyday scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your critical thinking skills. Examples of Critical Thinking Questions Scenario: In a business context, analyze the potential impacts of a proposed strategy on both short-term profitability and long-term sustainability. Question: What factors would you consider in determining the viability of the proposed strategy, and how might it affect the company's overall success? Scenario: Evaluate conflicting scientific studies on a pressing environmental issue.

Question: Identify the key methodologies and data points in each study. How would you reconcile the disparities to form an informed, unbiased conclusion?

Why Practice Matters

Engaging in the Critical Thinking Practice Test familiarizes you with the test format and cultivates a mindset geared towards agile and astute reasoning. This preparatory phase allows you to refine your cognitive toolkit, ensuring you approach the assessment with confidence and finesse.

We'll navigate through specific examples as we proceed, offering insights into effective strategies for tackling critical thinking questions. Prepare to embark on a journey of intellectual sharpening, where each practice question refines your analytical prowess for the challenges ahead.

This is a practice critical thinking test.

The test consists of three questions . 

After you have answered all the questions, you will be shown the correct answers and given full explanations.

Make sure you read and fully understand each question before answering. Work quickly, but don't rush. You cannot afford to make mistakes on a real test .

If you get a question wrong, make sure you find out why and learn how to answer this type of question in the future. 

Six friends are seated in a restaurant across a rectangular table. There are three chairs on each side. Adam and Dorky do not have anyone sitting to their right and Clyde and Benjamin do not have anyone sitting to their left. Adam and Benjamin are not sitting on the same side of the table.

If Ethan is not sitting next to Dorky, who is seated immediately to the left of Felix?

You might also be interested in these other PRT articles: